NCPIC training

NCPIC delivers FREE training to alcohol and other drugs professionals, and the allied health, youth, education and the criminal justice sectors. The training team provides interactive workshops on the latest evidence-based information and interventions related to cannabis use. Click on the arrows below for more information.

Register for training

We offer a range of free training opportunities. To book a workshop, please contact [email protected]

Effective Discussions with Young Cannabis Users

2 hours for experienced clinicians 4 hours for a more comprehensive workshop

Suitable for 10 – 20 people

The objectives of the workshop are to enable participants to:

Engage and communicate effectively with young people

Screen young people who acknowledge their cannabis use

Educate young people on the long term risks associated with cannabis use

Increase awareness of the impact of current use on future goals

Deliver brief advice to their young clients who may recognise the need for change at a later date

The overall goal of this brief intervention is to engage and increase awareness amongst young people so as to reduce the risk of long term harm and dependence. This workshop will cover a brief intervention that will include; screening; feedback and psycho-education in the hope that the recognition of problematic use may foster an attempt to change cannabis use in the future.

This workshop is specifically designed for clinicians or educators working in the youth sector who come into contact with young cannabis users. These may include school-based support staff, youth accommodation workers, community workers, teachers and police.

Participants will be trained in a 30-minute intervention which will include; how cannabis impacts adolescent development; how to deliver a screening tool; the use of appropriate communication strategies; feedback and psycho-education. Participants will also be furnished with the materials necessary to implement this brief intervention.

Prerequisites: Workshop participants will need:

to be working within the youth sector

to possess a sound knowledge of Motivational Interviewing theory

** It is recommended that this training start with a one hour information session which will provide participants with up-to-date information on cannabis.

Very Brief Intervention (VBI)

2 hours for experienced clinicians 4 hours for a more comprehensive workshop

Suitable for 10 – 20 people

This workshop is specifically designed for individuals who engage opportunistically with cannabis users.

The objectives of the workshop are to enable participants to:

Raise clients’ awareness of the impact of their current cannabis use

Educate clients on the risks associated with cannabis use

Motivate clients to recognise the need for change

Support, encourage and motivate their clients should they wish to make a change

The overall goal of the VBI is to motivate clients to evaluate their cannabis use through engagement and education with the view to making changes. This VBI is designed to be delivered opportunistically and is appropriate for clients who have not specifically sought help for their cannabis use but whose use is detected as being risky.

Very Brief Interventions (VBIs) are aimed at clients who are either indirectly experiencing problems a result of their cannabis use or are at risk of developing cannabis dependence. VBIs typically include; a brief screen; assessment; feedback; psycho-education; self-help material and assessment of the client’s motivation for change.

Participants will be trained in a 30-minute-long intervention which will include materials necessary to implement the VBI.

The most suitable workers would be clinicians who work with clients on a sessional basis within health, AOD, education and within corrections or those who would benefit from using a structured evidence-based intervention. Participants will be taken through the ACCU process and furnished with materials to deliver the intervention including the various assessment and feedback tools need.

Prerequisites – Workshop participants will need:

a very good understanding of Motivational Enhancement Techniques

sound counselling skills

** It is recommended that this training include a one hour information session which will provide participants with up-to-date information on cannabis.

Quitting Cannabis? 1-6 sessions

The objective of the workshop is to enable participants to implement an evidence-based structured Cognitive Behavioural Intervention with their client population.

The intervention is supported by a ‘guide’ for the clinician and a ‘workbook’ for the client. These materials will be provided to participants and will be utilsed in the workshop.

The training is suitable for clinicians within drug and alcohol, youth and mental health services who deal with treatment seeking clients on a face to face basis.

Prerequisites – Workshop participants will need:

a thorough understanding of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

to be currently in a face to face counselling role

** It is recommended that this training include a one hour information session which will provide participants with up-to-date information on cannabis.

Clinical Train the Trainer - Professional Development

2-3 days

In order to sustain and disseminate appropriate NCPIC education and training we have developed a ‘Train the Trainer’ model.

The aim of the ‘Train the Trainer’ model is to increase the ability of a selected group of clinicians skilled in the delivery of motivational enhancement and cognitive behavioural therapies to successfully deliver and train others in two evidenced-based interventions. These clinicians will then constitute the core of a sustainable model to successfully deliver ‘Quitting Cannabis 1 – 6 sessions’ and/or ‘Adolescent Cannabis Check-up’ on behalf of NCPIC.

We will invite skilled clinicians, particularly those in the alcohol and other drug (AOD) field and educators to enrol in this workshops. This is a great opportunity to build capacity and to improve clinical skills within an organisation, as the workshops are aligned to core competencies. Furthermore, becoming involved in this sustainable model will not only enhance the skills of professionals in the workforce, it also ensures those with cannabis use disorder are receiving evidence-based treatment. Our expectation of the participants in the ‘Train the Trainer’ workshops are as follows:

that they be suitably knowledgeable and skilled in motivational enhancement and cognitive behavioural therapies

that they will deliver the intervention/s to their current clients where suitable

that they will commit to providing workshops, ongoing support, mentoring and will be consultants to others with regards to these interventions within their region or workplace

To ensure sustainability of the intervention/s each participant will be required to deliver:

a minimum of two workshops a year on either or both interventions

Very Brief Intervention (VBI) for Cannabis – 1 hour webinar

Very Brief Interventions are aimed at engaging with clients who are indirectly experiencing problems as a result of their cannabis use and are at risk of developing long term cannabis dependence. VBIs typically include a brief assessment/screen, feedback, psycho-education, self-help material, as well as assessment of the client’s motivation for change.

The overall goal of the VBI is to motivate clients to evaluate their cannabis use with the view to making changes. This VBI is designed to be delivered opportunistically and is appropriate for clients who have not specifically sought help for their cannabis use but whose use is detected as being risky.

The Very Brief Intervention will educate clients on the risks associated with cannabis use and increase their clients’ awareness of the impact of their current cannabis use; motivate clients to recognise the need for change; as well as support encourage and motivate their clients to make a change.

Clinical Webinar - ACCU

Adolescent Cannabis Check-Up (ACCU)

A Clinical Intervention

This series will consist of four one-hour webinars that will guide viewers through the ACCU clinical intervention which was based on a randomised controlled trial. This workshop is designed specifically for clinicians who wish to treat clients with cannabis-related problems or cannabis use disorder.

The webinar series will cover the ACCU assessment session in two parts and the ACCU feedback session in two parts. This intervention is based on motivational interviewing and primarily targets non-cannabis treatment seekers or ambivalent clients in the hope of increasing their motivation towards change. Participants will be taken through the structured ACCU intervention process and familiarised with the resources needed to deliver the intervention.

Generally speaking, this webinar series in only appropriate for individuals with:

A good understanding of Motivational Enhancement Techniques

Good counselling skills

The objective of the workshop is to enable participants who have already attended workshops to refresh their memory or to:

Deliver an evidence-based Motivational Enhancement Intervention with their own client population

Increase awareness in clients who use cannabis

Motivate clients to move towards change

Please note: Prior to viewing the webinar series you will need to download and have handy the following two documents:

Clinical Webinar - Quitting Cannabis? 1-6 sessions

This webinar series will consist of four one-hour webinars that will guide viewers through the QC 1-6 clinical intervention which was based on a randomised controlled trial. This intervention is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and primarily targets cannabis treatment seekers.

This webinar series is designed specifically for clinicians who wish to treat clients with cannabis related problems or cannabis use disorder. Participants will be taken through the structured QC 1-6 intervention process and familiarised with the resources needed to deliver the intervention.

Prerequisites for registration - webinar participants will need:

A thorough understanding of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Good counselling skills

The objective of the workshop is to enable participants (especially in rural and remote regions) to:

Implement an evidence-based structured cognitive behavioural intervention with their own client population

Increase cognitive and behavioural skills in clients wishing to reduce cannabis use

Be able to utilise the clinical guide and client workbook supporting the intervention

Educational webinars

NCPIC recently hosted eight educational webinars on a range of topics. Each webinar is around one hour in length and is free to view below. Click on the YouTube button on the bottom right of the video below to view all of the webinars.